24th June 2009

Mr Speaker,

I congratulate the President on delivering his first Budget Vote. The Presidency is, as it has been memorably put, the "bully pit of the nation". The success of our common endeavours depends upon the success of the Presidency in discharging its sacred duties. The Presidency, I believe, enjoys the understanding and warm support of the people which is essential to victory. By virtue of being Head of State, you are our President across the political divides.

This was the reason, the House will recall, why I tried to defend the dignity of your predecessor President Thabo Mbeki when he was being denigrated in this House when he was the face of South Africa, and his shameful unceremonious defenestration.

Whilst it is important to "travel in hope" as RL Stevenson memorably put it, it is tantamount to political suicide to give people false hope merely because we consider the truth a too difficult pill for them to swallow. While we should not abandon our optimism in the midst of these challenges, we dare not lure our people into a "Fools Paradise", for they will turn against us once the sober reality dawns.

Only a foolish optimist can deny the dark realities of the moment. So on this day we should not shrink from honestly facing conditions in our country today. We welcome the noble aspirations contained in the 12 policy priority areas, but do question how they will be achieved.  The maxim "less is more" could apply to the present hour.

The government will battle to deliver on its promises because South Africa has gone into recession for the first time since 1992, following a sharp decline in the manufacturing and mining sectors. The Economist magazine recently designated South Africa as the most risky emerging market.

I therefore contend that the Presidency must prioritise economic growth and bat for South Africa at every opportunity. Our President, I believe, has all the attributes to make a fine batsman for SA. So we would like to ask how the Presidency and, in particular, the newly created National Planning Commission, will bolster the government's efforts to promote South African goods and services?

I noted yesterday that the Co-Operative Minister the Honourable Sicelo Schiceka was quoted as saying that SA is one country with one President and "no one is expected to be out of tune" when briefing journalists about the possibility of provinces being scrapped.

Whilst one would normally be discomfited with such a Stalin-esque sentiment and hopes that the Presidency will staunchly defend our hard-won constitutional settlement, one perhaps would not mind if it was applied to government's economic strategy. With the creation of the NPC and the reconfiguration of a number of key ministries with overlapping competences, the IFP believes it is vital that the economic policy is seen to be shaped and led by the President and that the Presidency speaks with a unified voice.  There are, alas, too many voices off stage, and off key, at the moment.

I must however hasten to say that this not peculiar to your Presidency Mr President. I am sure that you will recall that when both of us were in President Mbeki's cabinet and government unveiled it's macro economic strategy of GEAR - Growth, Employment and Redistribution, members of the tripartite alliance were shouting all over the country the chant "Asifuni Gear".

The multiplicity of voices in the ranks of the ruling-party today is creating a Tower of Babel situation which is leading to unnecessary uncertainty in the country. The recession can be likened to a time of war where the patriotism of all colleagues across the political divides is being sorely tested. One naturally does not expect all political parties to sing from the same hymn sheet, but we can at least sing certain bars of our song of survival in unison.

Time only allows me to touch upon one aspect of this issue. Whilst I realise that mining is not a direct line function of the Presidency, it  should  be a matter of grave concern  to the Government  that  SA mining  production contracted a staggering 32.8% in the first quarter of 2009 which  led  to a -6.4% decline in GDP. Again, we would be interested to know if the NPC will work with the  Department of Mining to review  urgently  the  recently published - and misnamed - Codes of Good Practice for the mining industry. These Codes, we contend, not only run contrary to international best practice, but also impose a strait-jacket on the industry in the midst of a global financial crisis, and place SA at a distinct disadvantage against other important African mining destinations, such as Ghana and Botswana.

On a sunnier note, the construction sector is thriving because of the upcoming World Cup, but this, of course, will end with the completion of the new stadia. One of the Presidency's priority areas is to ensure the effective oversight of the implementation of Government's 2010 World Cup commitments. We congratulate the government on the progress that they have made so far and we were delighted to learn that President Barack Obama may attend the Opening Ceremony.

We would like to know what the Presidency's long-term strategic plans are to take advantage of this event to market the country as a destination of choice, and to utilise the stadia long after the tournament. The Catalonia region of Spain enjoyed a cultural and economic renaissance after the Barcelona Olympics in 1992. Could there be such a boost for SA? Only, we say, if we act quickly now.

Mr Speaker, there is no unsolvable problem if we face it wisely and courageously. We look to the President to lead us with discipline and vision. We wish him well.

The IFP supports the Presidency Budget Vote.

Contact:
Liezl van der Merwe
083 611 7470